Habitat Projects

*The CSV/Excel file may contain multiple records for a site since unique habitat information is included. Only sites with geometry are provided in the KML file. EIP projects cannot be downloaded or filtered through the Habitat Projects Tool.

The California Aquatic Resource Inventory (CARI) is a standardized statewide map of wetlands, streams, and riparian areas. It is the result of a diligent technical effort, conducted under the guidance of the California Wetlands Monitoring Workgroup, to identify and classify these critical aquatic resources. To that end, CARI is a compilation of multiple data sources to produce seamless coverage across the state. Datasets used in CARI include the National Wetland Inventory (USFWS), National Hydrography Dataset (USGS), and regional intensified maps. The effort to stitch together a statewide dataset from multiple sources is largely a classification crosswalk exercise. Due to this there may be errors in classification of the features or boundaries of wetland extent in CARI. This is particularly an issue with depressional features or freshwater ponds and marshes. The CARI map is not intended for regulatory purposes and does not serve as a jurisdictional delineation. If you would like to learn more about this map, please consult the CARI project page.

In no event shall the creators, custodians, or distributors of this information be held liable for any damages arising out of its use. These data are not legal documents or of survey quality and are not intended to be used as such. Although significant effort has been made to produce error-free and complete data, all geographic and project-related information has limitations due to the scale, resolution, timeliness and interpretation of the original source materials. Data may be subject to change without prior notification. We request that the use of these data in any map, publication, or report should cite the data source(s) used and give proper attribution and credit to the originators of the data.

Please direct any issues concerning incorrect data or questions about the proper usage, citation, or constraints for these data to ecoatlas@sfei.org.

Data Source - CARI

California Aquatic Resource Inventory (CARI)

The California Aquatic Resource Inventory is a standardized statewide map of wetlands, streams, and riparian areas. This Geographic Information System (GIS) dataset provides accurate and detailed information about wetland and riparian distribution and abundance for management, planning, and research of the State’s aquatic resources.

Pre-CARI mapping efforts for California contain varying levels of detail, vintages, coverage, and classifications, which makes comparisons of wetland presence across the State challenging. To improve wetland and riparian data in the State, CARI is produced using a standardized mapping approach developed by statewide experts and implemented regionally drawing on local knowledge. Examples of CARI mapping can be seen in the San Francisco Bay Area, Lake Tahoe Basin (Upper Truckee River Watershed), and the Southern California Coast. As CARI efforts continue to produce high-quality, comprehensive maps, there is still a need for a single statewide dataset of aquatic resource data. CARI v0, as seen on EcoAtlas Modern Habitats, is a compilation of multiple data sources to produce seamless coverage across the state. Datasets used in CARI v0 include the National Wetland Inventory (USFWS), National Hydrography Dataset (USGS), and regional intensified maps.

The effort to stitch together a statewide dataset from multiple sources is largely a classification crosswalk exercise. Due to this there may be errors in classification of the features or boundaries of wetland extent in CARI v0. This is particularly an issue with depressional features or freshwater ponds and marshes. The CARI map is not intended for regulatory purposes and does not serve as a jurisdictional delineation. Efforts to correct both spatial accuracy and classification errors will be addressed in CARI v1.

For more information or to submit comments or corrections (including screen shot or lat/longs) contact CARImapping@sfei.org

Data Source - Riparian Area

Riparian Area

Data are available in the Bay Area only.

The vegetation and hillslope layers were generated using the Riparian Area Mapping Tool (RAMT), which models the functional area for different ecological and geomorphic processes that contribute to create the riparian zone. The calculations required to model the contributing function of each process are organized into modules. Currently, RAMT includes modules for vegetation and hillslope, and more are planned for the future. The main input file to RAMT is a stream or wetland shapefile. Depending on the module, other files include elevation rasters, vegetation datasets, and user-defined bins for data values. In order to ensure a smooth user experience, RAMT was structured to accept data that is freely and widely available, and the interface is fully documented with parameter explanations.

Data Source - CRAM

California Rapid Assessment Method (CRAM)

The California Rapid Assessment Method is a standardized, cost-effective tool for assessing the health of wetlands and riparian habitats of California. It is designed to enable standardized ambient assessments at multiple scales: projects, watersheds, regions, and statewide. CRAM can be used to assess compensatory mitigation projects, as well as restoration projects, to help evaluate the performance of wetland and riparian protection policies and programs. The use of CRAM for ambient monitoring will, over time, help wetland managers and scientists quantify the relative influence of anthropogenic stress, management actions, and natural disturbance on the spatial and temporal variability in reference conditions. This information can then be used in the design, management, and assessment of projects.

Data Source - Wetlands Projects

Habitat Projects

The Wetland Projects dataset contains wetland restoration or mitigation projects in the San Francisco Bay Area, the Central Coast, and the South Coast. In the San Francisco Bay Area, project information is collected for all new 401 certified projects. Projects can be accessed via the interactive map, as well as individual project information pages that display information on the size, construction status, county, contacts, and planned activity. In addition, supporting materials including monitoring reports, permits, or photos are available in the project’s file repository. Please note that a project can have more than one site and sites can have different status codes.

An online tool for submitting projects is being developed and will streamline the process of uploading and editing projects in EcoAtlas.

Data Source - Eelgrass Aquatic Resources

Eelgrass Aquatic Resources

Data are not comprehensive for all areas of California.

Eelgrass (Zostera marina and Z. pacifica) aquatic resource areas are recognized as important ecological communities in nearshore open coast areas, shallow bays, and estuaries throughout coastal California. Access to regional maps and related monitoring reports is crucial in order to monitor the extent of eelgrass habitat and how it is changing over time, evaluate the effects of coastal development projects on eelgrass habitat, and inform interested stakeholders and the public about eelgrass distribution. A system for tracking changes in this aquatic resource may inform the effectiveness of ongoing conservation and restoration efforts.

The regional survey maps for eelgrass contained within EcoAtlas represent the best available data about eelgrass distribution in coastal embayments and estuaries in the southern California region during 1994-2014. These data have been collected using a variety of methods and the survey results are not comprehensive in that the data incorporated in these surveys have been derived from a restricted subset of surveys that have been conducted in the region. This information is intended only for regional planning purposes and not for site-specific impact assessment purposes. All data, including mitigation project polygons and associated monitoring reports, were provided by third party consultants and compiled by staff of the Long Beach office of the Protected Resources Division, National Marine Fisheries Service West Coast Region.

The date slider adjusts the visibility of system-wide eelgrass surveys according to the desired time period. The frequency and coverage of system-wide surveys vary. For those systems with multiple year survey periods, the use of a wide date range may provide an indication of the maximum extent of eelgrass in the system. However, the absence of eelgrass in a given year may be a product of limited survey observations rather than actual absence of eelgrass.

For more information and to download the data, contact Bryant Chesney (Bryant.Chesney@noaa.gov) or Adam Obaza (Adam.Obaza@noaa.gov), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Southwest Region, Long Beach office of the Habitat Conservation Division.

Data Source - Historical Aquatic Resources

Historic Aquatic Resources and Terrestrial Plant Communities

Since the 1990s, the San Francisco Estuary Institute-Aquatic Science Center (SFEI-ASC) and partner organizations (including Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, CSU Northridge, California Department of Fish and Wildlife Ecosystem Restoration Program, Friends of The Napa River, and the Alameda County Resource Conservation District) have been mapping California’s historical aquatic and terrestrial resources. This dataset combines the historical mapping from 12 separate SFEI-ASC research projects spanning from 1998 to 2013. The historical mapping of prevailing conditions prior to Euro-American modification is a major component of each research effort. The goals of these historical ecology mapping efforts include providing information for habitat restoration, watershed management, flood protection, and local education.

For each research project, an array of heterogeneous data sources was compiled and analyzed in order to map historical features. Spatial data sources including historical maps, surveys, and aerial photos were used in conjunction with non-spatial sources such as early explorers’ journals, travelers’ accounts, and newspaper articles in order to interpret and map historical ecological features. Information about the original mapping projects, as well as sources and certainty levels associated with each historical feature can be accessed by clicking on a particular feature and then clicking the ‘more..’ hyperlink.

Extensive supporting information, including bibliographic references, analyses, and research methods, can be found in the individual published reports which are available online. When using these data for analytical purposes, we strongly recommend referring to the each project's documentation for a complete description of habitat types, certainty levels, and mapping extents. For more information visit SFEI-ASC’s Historical Ecology Page: http://www.sfei.org/he. To download the data visit GeoFetch: http://gis.sfei.org/geofetch.

We would like to thank the many funders who have supported this collective body of work. Click here to see the complete list.

US Environmental Protection Agency Region 9California State Coastal ConservancyCalifornia Department of Fish and Wildlife Ecosystem Restoration ProgramCalifornia State Water Resources Control BoardSan Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control BoardSanta Clara Valley Water DistrictCity of San JoséSanta Clara Valley Urban Runoff Prevention ProgramSilicon Valley Pollution Prevention CenterSan Francisco Public Utility CommissionAlameda County Flood Control and Water Conservation DistrictAlameda County Water DistrictZone 7 Water AgencyFriends of the Napa RiverNapa County Flood Control and Water Conservation DistrictNapa County Watershed Information Center and ConservancyNapa County Wildlife Conservation CommissionNapa County VintnersSan Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains ConservancySanta Ana Watershed AssociationSanta Monica Bay Restoration Commission

Last update: 2013

Using USGS StreamStats to Delineate a Basin

USGS StreamStats is used to delineate an upstream catchment from a user-defined pour point. To use StreamStats follow these steps:

In the Layer list—check on the CARI layer

In the CARI legend—check on the Drainage Features and position the transparency slider to the right

In the map—zoom in to the bottom of the watershed you want to delineate

In the StreamStats tool—click the "Yes" button to activate StreamStats

In the map—click on a point on a stream (to ensure an accurate watershed, make sure you’re zoomed in close enough to click directly on the stream line)

Wait for the delineation to complete, then click in the polygon that is drawn on the map

The Landscape Profile will be generated.

To run StreamStats again,

Close the Landscape Profile web report

In the StreamStats tool—click the No button to reset StreamStats

Repeat steps 4-7

CARI Editor Help

Edit existing feature

Select Stream to edit a line feature or Wetland to edit a polygon feature

Use the map navigation controls to zoom to a feature of interest

Click a feature to select it for editing

To move a vertex, click and drag it

To add a vertex, click and drag the midpoint of a line segment

To delete a vertex, position the mouse over it and press the Delete key

Enter contact information and update feature attributes using the form fields

Eelgrass Aquatic Resources are only available along the coast. Please zoom in to view.

Date Range

The date slider adjusts the visibility of system-wide eelgrass surveys–frequency and coverage vary. For systems with multiple survey years, a wide date range may show the maximum extent of eelgrass in the system. The absence of eelgrass for a year may be a product of limited survey observations.